Saphire Moser

As a teaching assistant, I contribute to the learning experience of students by answering any questions they have regarding their course material or course logistics. I am a teaching assistant for the anatomy and physiology labs at the college. The College of St. Scholastica, thanks to the generous gift of donors, has a cadaver lab available for undergrad and graduate students to learn from. As a teaching assistant, I am present at scheduled lab times to answer any questions and assist in the teaching of the material. I am also a teaching assistant for the physiology lab during which I help the professor and students in any way I can. I am grateful for this wonderful opportunity to learn and grow as an aspiring professional.

A day on the job involves continuous monitoring and interpretation of heart rhythms and rates, as well as any possible abnormal or early conductions within the heart. I interact with doctors, nurses, and other hospital employees to discuss changes in heart functioning for a particular patient, as it appears on our monitors, using phones and by speaking with them face-to-face. In addition, another responsibility allows me to have patient contact and interaction. I am responsible for replacing electrodes and leads on patients whose heart monitor leads have become dissociated from their chest, leading to inadequate collection of data due to the lack of contact to the patient's skin. I also measure portions of the QRS complex and print rhythm strips for the patients that I am monitoring to assure that appropriate data is gathered for the best interpretation and the best care of the patient on telemetry.

I worked as a rehabilitation aide at the Warroad, MN Rehabilitation Clinic five days a week, eight hours a day. This job consisted of assisting the Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, PTAs, OTAs, Massage Therapists, Athletic Trainers, and Intake Coordinators in whatever tasks they asked of me. Daily tasks included: organizing and disinfecting treatment rooms, restocking wound care and treatment supply cabinets, charting, assisting in care for patients as needed, answering phone calls, among others.

This job provided me with great experience opportunities observing and assisting PTs, Athletic Trainers, and OTs. In addition, it provided the opportunity to witness the daily discussions and actions taken for charting, patient care, and problem solving.